The Gospel of Thomas 97-98

97 Jesus said, "The kingdom is like a certain woman who was carrying a jar full of meal. While she was walking a path, still far from home, the handle of the jar broke and the meal spilled out behind her on the road, but she did not realize it; she hadn't noticed the accident. When she reached her house, she set the jar down and found it empty."

Sayings 97 and 98 are not found anyplace in scripture. The parable of the jar of meal is odd on the surface—but it may refer to the unconscious testimony a Christian makes throughout life. We do things we aren't aware of that show our faith.

The woman wasn't aware that she was spreading the nourishing "meal" (the gospel) behind her as she walked the path of her life all the way until she reached her destination, but she did it all the same.

98 Jesus said, "The kingdom of the Father is like a certain man who wanted to kill a strong man. He drew his sword inside his own house and stuck it into the wall in order to find out whether he had the courage to go through with it. Then he murdered the strong man."

Saying 98 is the parable of the assassin. Perhaps the Gnostic origin of this saying had brushed shoulders with the Zealots, a Jewish revolutionary group that used violence and terrorism to oppose Roman rule in Palestine.

Perhaps a good application could be this: if we can't share the gospel with our own family members, how can we go out and share it with strangers who may (strongly) oppose the message? But the picture language -- involving a sin -- is not the kind of thing you would expect to hear from the Lord, nor do you, anywhere in the Bible.

The problem with using this kind of language is that you don't know how people will use it to advocate their own agenda. Perhaps that's why John said:

I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. (2 John 12)